On Friday, at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian advocate for human rights, was declared the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2023.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized her tireless efforts in combatting the suppression of women in Iran and her unwavering dedication to advancing human rights and freedom for all, as stated in their citation.
Narges Mohammadi, a prominent Iranian human rights advocate, has been recognized for her tireless work in promoting women’s rights and advocating for the abolition of the death penalty, as reported by Reuters.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, the president of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, opened her speech by echoing the Farsi phrases “woman, life, freedom,” which were chanted during nonviolent protests against the Iranian government. She hailed Mohammadi as a “freedom fighter.”
Mohammadi was honored “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all,” Reiss-Andersen stated.
She further emphasized Mohammadi’s dedication to freedom of expression, independence, and challenging oppressive rules that dictate women’s dress codes and visibility.
Front Line Defenders, a civil rights organization, has reported that Mohammadi has endured several years of imprisonment and is currently serving multiple sentences totaling approximately 12 years at Tehran’s Evin Prison. One of the charges against her is propaganda against the state.
Notably, Mohammadi serves as the deputy head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, a non-governmental organization led by Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2003.
Mohammadi’s Nobel Peace Prize win makes her the 19th woman to receive the prestigious award in its 122-year history, following Maria Ressa of the Philippines, who shared the honor with Russia’s Dmitry Muratov in 2021.
This year, the Nobel Peace Prize received a record-breaking 351 nominations, the second-highest number ever, including 259 individuals and 92 organizations. This marks the eighth consecutive year with over 300 nominees.
The Nobel Peace Prize, valued at 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1 million), will be presented in Oslo on December 10, coinciding with the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist who established the award in his 1895 will.
